White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu briefed reporters Tuesday on the implementation of the infrastructure legislation President Joe Biden signed into law last year, declaring it “Infrastructure Week” at the White House yet again.
“Except the difference is we’re actually going to build stuff,” Landrieu added, a clear reference to past administrations that failed to pass bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
Under former President Donald Trump, multiple attempts to pass an infrastructure bill were promoted as “Infrastructure Week.” But no bill ever received bipartisan support.
The former New Orleans mayor outlined how in the 60 days after Biden signed the bill into law, the Cabinet and infrastructure task force convened six times — a seventh meeting is scheduled for Thursday — to plot out exactly how that $1.2 trillion should be spent over the next decade. He added that his office had contacted all 50 governors in the country to discuss upgrades to roads, bridges, and airports, noting additional announcements in the coming weeks.
“This infrastructure work, in general, is not a one-time economic stimulus. It is not a race to see how many ribbons we can cut before the end of the year,” Landrieu said. “Doing this is going to require a balance. It’s going to require order. We are definitely going to go fast, but we are not going to hurry, and we are going to get it right.”
“The president has been clear in his charge to me. Build a better America without unnecessary bureaucracy and delay, while at the same time doing what is difficult for the sake of what is right,” he said. “‘Better,’ as we have said many times, means creating good middle class jobs, investing in American manufacturing, and building capacity right here at home. Supporting disadvantaged and underserved communities so that no one and no community is left behind, advancing climate resilience and sustainability so that we can be better prepared and ready for whatever is coming our way.”
“All of this will make us stronger and better, reduce costs for the middle-class families and help us compete,” Landrieu said. “This is what building a better America looks like for all of us.”
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